12th Sunday of Matthew
Scripture: Matthew 19:16-26
We all aspire to become efficient, productive, and successful adults, much like the young man who believed he had achieved precisely that by adhering to the commandments. However, his world was soon shattered.
Under the pressure to continually improve and evolve into better individuals, we can inadvertently become self-absorbed, leading to feelings of pride and self-centeredness.
In the process, we often find ourselves alienating people, even those we hold dear. Instead of evolving into better versions of ourselves, we unintentionally transform into something akin to Scrooge.
Just as the ghosts in “A Christmas Carol” assisted Scrooge, Jesus aids the young man by guiding him to overcome his self-centeredness: by selling his possessions and using the proceeds to assist those in need.
Financial giving, whether it’s through contributing to the church’s stewardship or aiding those in need, is fundamentally a spiritual discipline that showcases our spiritual maturity and freedom in Christ.
By employing our possessions as a means of glorifying God and helping others, we become like God who is generous and giving.
Liberated from the clutches of material possessions and self-absorption, we not only heed the call to follow Christ, but also ensure that we amass treasures in heaven.